Portland food truck locations announced for new pilot project

Michaela Bourgeois
·2 min read
3

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – New dining options are coming to downtown Portland under a food truck pilot project.

The project comes after Portland City Council passed an emergency ordinance in January, directing the Portland Bureau of Transportation to establish the two-year pilot.

The project aims to revitalize downtown by offering more dining options for downtown workers and residents, while expanding food truck operators’ reach to more customers. The program is only for mobile food trucks, not fixed food carts, officials note.

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The ordinance waives right-of-way city code that prohibits food trucks from operating within the central city and builds off of PBOT’s Healthy Business Program, which allowed downtown property owners to request food truck services for their employees and tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Locations

Officials announced the first locations under the program — including the Pacwest Center at 1121 Southwest Fifth Avenue, with food trucks open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.

At this location, food trucks will serve lunch for the next two weeks, rotating from Filipino barbecue, sweet and savory crepes, to hamburgers and sandwiches.

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The second location is outside the NV Apartments at 1261 Northwest Overton Street, with food trucks offering dinner options on Thursdays from 5-7:30 p.m.

Starting Feb. 26, a third location at Lownsdale Square Park, at 350 Southwest Salmon Street, will operate Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with daily food truck rotations.

“Portland’s food scene is part of what makes this city great,” Transportation Commissioner Mingus Mapps said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have food trucks join the ranks of amazing dining options in our central city and I can’t wait to try them. This pilot project is another step in increasing the vitality and livability of our central city.”

“Food trucks, like PBOT’s Outdoor Dining Program, bring life and activity to our streets and sidewalks,” said PBOT Director Millicent Williams. “The food trucks provide a new and exciting way to bring more small businesses into the central city, giving a boost to our local economy while adding to the vibrancy of our city’s streets. I look forward to hearing from Portlanders about their experiences over the duration of this two-year pilot program.”

If the project is successful, PBOT will propose a permanent program to City Council in Fall 2025.

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